Purdue News

January 22, 1999 PMO and Convos collaborate with 'The Bobs' WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A new wave, a cappella quartet, The Bobs, will be the first co-presentation of Purdue Musical Organizations and Purdue Convocations. The quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at West Lafayette High School's auditorium. The Bobs are known for their unusual live performances, their irreverent, original material, and their outrageous covers of classic songs. In 1981, Richard Greene, Matthew Stull, Amy Engelhardt and Joe Finetti formed a "band without instruments," using just their voices and body percussion to create melody, harmony and accompaniment. Since then, they have sold out venues around the world, released nine albums, been nominated for a Grammy, appeared on network television, scored movies, produced commercials, and been the musical commentators on National Public Radio, where they give a 'singing' summary of current events. Their two PBS Lonesome Pine specials have been added to the permanent collection of the Media Archives of the Smithsonian Institution. A concert by The Bobs is often difficult to describe. The Albany New York Daily Gazette put it this way: "All their inspired lunacy somehow managed to coexist with breathtaking musical precision; they simply sang great. It was a wonderfully wacky and magically musical ride -- to places a cappella music ventures only in the voices of The Bobs." The Seattle Times is more concise: "The Bobs sing like Gary Larson draws." Purdue Convocations and Purdue Musical Organizations intend this to be one of many collaborations. "We're looking for more opportunities to join forces with other arts-related organizations and departments on campus and in the community," Lorna Myers, Convocations' director, said. "We share a lot of the same patrons with PMO, but there are definitely those who are solely Convos or PMO patrons. We want to bring all those people together and build a larger audience for both organizations." PMO Director Brian Breed agrees: "Collaboration is the name of the game. I think that arts groups are more than willing, they're eager, to throw their resources together to create more, to reach more. It's sort of a case of 'united we stand.'" General admission tickets to the Feb. 16 concert are $15 for the public and $10 for all students. Discounted group rates are also available. Charge by phone at (765) 494-3933 or 1-800-914-SHOW. In addition to the evening concert, the quartet will give a vocal master class and workshop for PMO students. CONTACT: Sue Stevens, Convocations' publicist, (765) 494-5045; e-mail, snstevens@convos.purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page